Minnesota's winter weather drops below freezing (and zero) and stays there for months. Brrrr. Cold weather can dry out and crack your fine stringed instrument. Here are some cold weather tips for the care of your instrument.
Never
leave your instrument in a cold car for any extended time. Always bring
the instrument inside with you (this also reduces theft).
When
riding in the car, do not put your instrument in the trunk, keep it in the
heated car.
If
flying, don't check your instrument with your luggage. Bring it on as
carry-on luggage.
If
for any reason your instrument was outside in the cold, let it warm up (for at
least 15 minutes) to room
temperature before tuning or playing.
Be
extra careful when tuning your instrument. Turn the pegs slowly and tune
the instrument more often. With harsh weather, it is often difficult for
the instrument to stay in tune.
Invest
in a Dampit (small humidifier to place inside your instrument) (located on the accessories page). Cold weather means dry
air, which can crack the fine wood of your instrument.
Polish
your instrument once a month. Keeping the wood polished can also prevent drying and
cracking in the winter months.
Where
do you keep your stringed instrument? A room with a humidifier would be
your best bet.
Make sure it is not leaning up
against a heating vent with hot dry air blowing on it.
Do
not keep your instrument near a fire place or wood stove. This too can dry
out your instrument.
Do
you see a small crack in your instrument (or hear a faint buzzing sound)?
Take it into the shop to be repaired as soon as possible, before the crack gets
worse.
Contact us for more information:
St.
Louis Park, MN 55426
Toll-Free:
(877) 503-2181
Local:
(952) 929-0026
Fax: (952) 929-6778
Copyright © 2004 House of Note
info@houseofnote.com